rousieboy

O's are turning down Brandon Wood and TReckling from LAA...offering more than that for GSherrill or any non-starter would be hard for me to stomach.

From CBS' site this week..."Last winter, when the Braves were trying to trade for Jake Peavy, there was talk that manager Bobby Cox was no fan of shortstop Yunel Escobar. Fast forward to Saturday, when Escobar missed a sign, and didn't swing on a hit and run with the Braves down 2-1 in the eighth inning. Asked by Atlanta reporters about the play, Escobar's response, through interpreter/teammate Mike Gonzalez: "Talk to me when I get three hits." Not the right answer. " ATL did NOT refuse to send Yunel to SD http://mlb.mlb.com/news/a...tstove2008&fext=.jsp ...Peavy threatened to veto the deal if Yunel came to SD. http://www3.signonsandieg...throws-curveball/?padres BCox is not a fan of Yunel and Escobar has been on the block all year...and then some. All the pieces are in order to trade JJHardy tomorrow for pitching and have AEscobar at short (even if he platoons some with CC). I made a trade proposal that was JJ for young pitching...it is going to happen. PS...welcome to the forum.

Since we have to give to get and all things considered (Escobar and Gamel not moving, Clay costing the world, ATL not thrilled with Yunel, KC missing Aviles, and of course, Braun wanting results...now.) here is an idea. It may be short one side or the other, but I think everyone will get the gist. JJHardy to ATL for Medlen and Yunel Yunel to KC for BBannister and a ptbnl Medlen, BBannister, and a ptbnl to MIL I think that Bannister has the makings of a decent NL pitcher and he has 3 years of arby left, AEscobar comes up and platoons with CC, Gamel and Hall do that two headed 3B thing, CMcG goes as long as he can, as far as he can at 2B, Parra gets time to get it right, however long it takes... Just a thought, oh and that ptbnl could be a major player for those that think MIL is giving up too much and not getting enough. Thoughts/feedback?

I am worried about what they would want to trade within the division...this is a new GM and not Littlefield that traded ARam to CHC and also took on MMorris' salary for a young OF in return...that got him canned. I like what PIT is doing until they can draft enough guys to field a real team. PIT will pass HOU soon and stay there for a long time.

Is Burgos actually Ballouli part 2?

Another thing is that if I were Kyle Gibson...I would consider just sitting out this year and heal in the independent leagues with a mind to re-enter the draft next year. Drafting him at #26 might just mean two #1s next year...I am not sure I want that.

So how far will he fall...will he fall all the way to #26...and if he does, would you take him...? http://milwaukee.brewers....=draft2009&fext=.jsp

I don't know, but I like splitting whenever I can. I don't feel I lose from this tactic, it keeps the game fresh for me, but I don't sit on the dealer's right...ever...just because, like you said, low end players get so agitated at that move. I also chip the dealer in and tip after hitting 21 or getting a fresh Newcastle. Interesting rebuttal on the closer analogy, I will consider it.

All the people wanting Bill Hall's autograph came from his right and he only managed to sign the paper 5 out of 59 times.

At least once every interview, DP gets the interviewee to say." Hmm, that is a good question..." Dan is so much better than Jim Rome. Rome is still the same guy that got flipped by "Chris" Everett.

Hernan Iribarren would be a better option at 2B now than having BHall play at 3B (swinging CMcG from 2B to 3B to cover the switch).

I would like nothing more than to see CSmith, DiFelice, Dillard, Burns turn in decent preformances and save us some cash moving forward...Go get 'em!

I'd like to compare it to playing blackjack. If you are sitting on the right of the dealer at a crowded table and are dealt say, a pair of Kings, then you don't split them if the dealer is in a position to possibly bust. The strategy is to just take the win, don't rock the table, and get out of that hand with a W. A pair of Kings on the dealer's left or in the middle of the table that is split receives far less condemnation than someone sitting on 3rd Base looking to double up some winnings. Take the W, make the game shorter, go home with some money. That is the perceived role of the closer.

So why did MJones get sent to Helena??

I feel that JackZ will make a play for players in the MIL system...some possibly can only be had after the year trade moratorium on draftees is lifted after the June 2009 draft. These players coming from SEA could be packaged to SD for Peavy. That way GMDM keeps his Gamel, Parra, Escobar, and Salome and trades for Peavy too. Fredrickson, Dykstra, Wooten, CKemp, Lintz could do greater good to a playoff run if some of them were traded for Peavy or maybe Bedard. Example... Fredrickson, Dykstra, Wooten to SEA for AMoore and SKelley then those players traded with Brewer and Lintz to SD for Peavy. Fredrickson, Dykstra, Wooten, Lintz for Bedard. Thoughts?

So JJ lacks polish if that is the difference. JJ is just a thrower now with what seems to be little feel for what is going on between his release and the catch/walk/HBP/hit...best of luck to him...

Iribarren to replace Weeks but maybe also to push Duffy...maybe more so? CMcG/Counsell and Hall/Gamel at 2B and 3B...that leaves time and depth chart spots to cover in the OF.

HI will get the call but Casey McG will start to get some at bats as to not wither away at all the good Counsell has been showing in spots.

Stetter and Suppan for Penny would ease payroll flexibility and maybe allow a bigger deadline deal later.

Are Anundsen's stats going to transfer when he advances? Will his "mid-80s fastball" work at AAA or on MLB hitters or is this a guy to trade sooner (ala Inman) while the fire is hot...?

I have to tell you that I am surprised to see all the talk about bats...with enough good pitching and catching you can buy/trade for all the bats you want. 1TT is an interesting observation, but I think that it is more than "true tool"...I think it is overwhelming tool. JJ was a natural hs athlete and could do many things well, but blew people away with that arm, same for LaPorta and Prince with their power... I would like to lay the groundwork of saying in the first 10 rounds I want to see 5 pitchers, 2 catchers, and 3 hot sticks...fielding be damned. Slick gloves can come after Rd 10...I want plus arms and two higher end catching prospects every draft...sort of like Wolf always taking a QB, OL, and a CB in all the GB drafts...the attrition rate is too high on arms and catchers. After round 10 and often well before it, it is going to be a crapshoot.

Suppan's problems go back to last year as mentioned by some very nervous JSOnline columnists...DeFelice is going to give you a better chance of winning games if Suppan pitches like he has his last 5 starts (dating back to last year vs. PHI and so on). I think Macha will give him another go, I think that Macha, Ash, and GM DM are already talking replacements. I think I am glad that Ned Yost is no longer the manager as Suppan would make 33 starts regardless in '09.

Why hasn't anyone brought up the idea of trading for Chris Nowak, 3B, Rays...it is not like he will beat out Evan Longoria anytime soon...he is built like a truck, good OPS, young enough and most likely, could be had for less than most. He is also not a recycled name cut and left hanging by the league... If you wanted him (Hall, Gamel, and CMcG aside)...what would you trade for him? What would get it done?

I am happy to learn from you. What do you suggest a GM should use when considering a midseason trade or off season pickup? What is the better alternative? Something must be used, no? I would doubt in my mind, though I have no way to be certain-not that that has stopped any opinions from flowing here-that MLB doesn't have a true value chart like the NFL does for trades. Scouting takes up the lions share…I am sure some stats are thrown around…but not as much as someone seeing something. The Narron brothers looking at Josh Hamilton and thinking he needs a shot…MMaddux staring at Turnbow and thinking, "I can do something with that." Meterologists, Statistical engineers, and economists…I would add psychologists and some teachers/professors are smart enough to throw out the confounding variables and confounding is the word you should have highlighted KegStand81. Can't fire 'em…they are too good at what they do. I know I am unpopular for coming to this post (because this part of the site is the baseball trekkie convention portion of the show) and raining on the parade of true believers, but sorry, it doesn't add up…I say that from a real world perspective…that is all I will say on that. Tear me down for being rational. I will add that I will think of you fondly the next time a Joakim Soria breaks out after changing a grip on a changeup or someone gets traded and the change of scenery and opportunity to work with different coaches makes all the difference in the world. PS…All Wisconsinites are pined for on this site and it is embarrassing to hear about trade ideas for Taschner and Washburn so they can pitch to Rottino…nice battery.

Projection formulas are a waste of time...period. They have too many confounding variables to be scientific by nature. You never know when a CC will throw the team on his back or when Sheets will pull something or the effect it has on a bullpen, blah, blah, blah. It is the butterfly wing that creates a hurricane...silly and useless. 30 years ago WHIP and SLG% were pretty rare. Their usefulness pans out rationally. This is where pocket GMs tell me the full extent of their inexperience...proceed.